Find Your Strength And Resilience In Art Making

Throughout my career I’ve been through many highs and lows. At one moment I’ll be working in the studio and the next day or following week I’ll be unexpectedly at a crossroads. I can remember every single one and can look back and see the shift in my art practice.

Completed days before the official announcement of the pandemic, I actually scanned and edited this in photoshop as a distraction to make it digital ready on the day of the announcement, March 11th 2020.

March 2020 with the announcement of the pandemic was challenging for so many people in so many ways. We all have personal stories and tales to tell, and many of us are still adapting to what we are forced to accept as the new normal. For my story, my family went into isolation for months, I homeschooled my three children and I lost 99% of my business. My husband was on standby for immediate military deployment for more times then I can count, and it was so mentally draining. We ran out of money and we ran out of food.

Resilience is something that I am good at. Looking back at life I see so many moments of failures that I’ve been able to bounce back from. Injuries, illness, postnatal depression, legal disputes, failed client work, careers that didn’t happen, setting unattainable goals. We have all endured something in our life that has rocked our world and I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been affected.

I have one of those personalities where I refuse to give up and I will keep striving ahead to forge new pathways to get me through to that next step.

There are many choices I could have made into the path I would take, and I chose strength. I didn’t want to walk away from the career I have been slowing building and forging for the last 13 years. I love what I do and I know there are people out there who enjoy looking at my art and having it in their homes. I know this is a viable career, but I also knew that I would have to adapt my business to the changing times.

A few weeks into the pandemic my online sales skyrocketed and I’ve sold out of most of my products, still unable to restock due to delays in getting new supplies. It did however make me feel amazing to get so much lovely feedback!!

1. Get into your studio and MAKE art
   Sounds simple doesn’t it? Well it is. Art is about expression, mark making, exploration, connecting with your mediums. No one else has to see what you create. There is a reason that art is used to support mental health and mindfulness. Even if it is just thirty minutes a day…. pull out that pen/paper or wool and make something.

2. Stop creating and take some TIME out

   Don’t force things. If you don’t feel ready to create then it is perfectly okay not to. We all experience burnout and exploring other avenues/hobbies might be exactly what your spirit needs to heal.

3. Evaluate what new PATHWAYS your creativity can take

   With reduced travel and lockdowns in place, creatives realised very quickly that their usual avenues of promoting or sales were no longer available. Is there a new skill you can learn to present your work in a different way? Maybe you can perform online, or teach students live via an ipad. Could you create an online exhibition or an auction?

4. PROMOTE yourself and your work

   Opportunities don’t just come knocking on your door. You need to put your work out there for people to find it. With so many people on social media, if you haven’t setup your website / online shop / instagram / facebook business pages etc then now is the time to do it! Start by sharing with your friends and family and then tell everyone else.

5. Could STUDY help increase your knowledge?

   A great way to pass the time is to upskill. I’ve recently completed a Certificate of Botanical Illustration with the Royal Botanical Gardens of Edinburgh and throughout September/October I’ll be studying Create Explore by Victoria Johnson and Pitch Your Portfolio with Shannon McNab. A lot of the American/European courses are released in October and March, so start researching and joining mailing lists now to know when enrolment opens.
   Otherwise other great quick upskilling options are Skillshare, Udemy and Creative Live.

My son watching my tester surface pattern designs print out as experimental gift wrap

Working on multiple projects at the same time. Nature works for a book on the back desk, succulent painting in the foreground as a mindfulness piece and I also started a sailing ship on the easel. The TV on the easel was setup so my children could use my studio as another time out space in the evening during isolation.

6. People like creativity because it is UNIQUE

Even big artists fail, art making is often a process of learning how to embrace mistakes and work around them. Whether that be adjusting lines on a painting, adding colours to a paint pour or re inking a plate for the press.

The world is embracing the broken lines, the unedited imagery, the mark making process and the texture of your creation. They’re loving things that are natural, organic, imperfect as they are individual.

7. Can you make your creations FUNCTIONAL

Let me be realistic, not all of us have a freedom to create without an income. With so many people losing their jobs and financially stretched, creating things to sell is a great way to help bring in some funds as well as being able to share your work with the world. If you want sales then you need to make what people are seeking. At the moment they want handmade, locally made, eco friendly/sustainable but also unique items that serve a function in their homes/lives.

An illustration inspired by isolation, exploring the individual quirks and details that makes our house a home of comfort.

8. Search for potential FUNDING or OPPORTUNITIES to help your next step

I’m in Australia and my government has provided financial support to creatives which is filtering through various creative art organisations. I am also a member of a number of other organisations that have various support programs in place. Scholarships, mentoring, cash grants, book awards, free upskilling workshops….. the list goes on. Research what you can join/what opportunities may be available to you and apply. Based on my experience I get one out of every ten things I will apply for, which is still amazing because if I didn’t try I would have nothing. Be bold and put yourself out there!

Try to stay positive, surround yourself with a support network and keep moving forward, the speed is totally up to you. We are in this together and right now I am feeling more support and empowered than ever.

How has the pandemic affected your creative pathway - and what changes have you started to make?